Books that Changed our Minds

Chasing Daylight, How My Forthcoming Death Transformed My Life

2010-02-25T20:24:00.010Z

Author: Eugene O’Kelly
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Reviewer: Stuart Lewis

Chasing Daylight – or ‘How my forthcoming death transformed my life’ – was written by former KPMG CEO Eugene O’Kelly over a three-month period following diagnosis with terminal brain cancer. During those three months he says goodbye to all those who have touched his life and reflects. Depressing, you might think - but not so to me as he found peace and was able to embrace death.

The final passage in the book was written by his wife: ‘Although Gene had to leave his position as CEO for KPMG, he took on a much more challenging, yet rewarding position, becoming CEO of his death. By using the skills and tools we had acquired through our lives together, we learned how to adapt in the face of adversity. You could say that we were putting our knowledge to the ultimate test –and we passed.’

I am most grateful to the client who brought this book to my attention.

Three Cups of Tea

2010-02-25T20:15:00.007Z

Author: Greg Mortenson
Publisher: Penguin non fiction
Reviewer: Stuart Lewis

Here’s a frightening statistic – ‘more than 145 million of the World’s children are deprived of education due to poverty, exploitation, slavery, gender discrimination, religion and corrupt Governments’.
This is the story of one brave American who, having been saved by the locals after a failed attempt to climb K2 in 1993 vowed to repay them by building a school in their remote part of Pakistan. An amazing, humbling and revealing account of how he not only fulfilled that promise but went on to build and fund 55 schools in the remotest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. A testament to human spirit and the potential positive impact of education.

Outliers: the Story of Success

2010-02-09T21:37:00.005Z

Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Reviewer: Liz Buckle

It is Malcolm Gladwell’s story-telling skill that makes his books so successful. The opening sentence of Outliers immediately lets us know that our imagination as well as our intellect is going to be fully engaged.
His objective is to change the way we think about success – to look beyond the men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary for the hidden advantages, extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that enabled these individuals to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in a way that others could not.
This book is thought provoking. Be prepared to read in one session, to return frequently, to re-read the stories, and to be inspired to take control of the machinery of achievement.

The Secrets of the People Whisperer

2010-02-09T21:26:00.005Z

Author: Perry Wood
Publisher: Ulysses Press, 2005
Reviewer: Colin Hudson

The Secrets of the People Whisperer looks at the art of communication beyond the content of what is said and explores why we say the things we do and how we communicate at a number of levels. The book opens with a focus on understanding ourselves in order to build a platform for developing communication with others. Twelve themes – the 12 secrets – are developed with a helpful range of practical examples and intuitions. This is a book that you can back to again and again and includes the finest definition of “How to truly listen” I have ever read.

Why Should Anyone be Led by YOU?

2010-02-09T20:57:00.006Z

Authors: Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones
Publisher: Harvard Business Press (2006)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

Subtitled 'What it takes to be an Authentic Leader', this is my favourite text about Leadership and I regularly recommend it to clients. It is based on 25 years of research and interviews – with Leaders of all kinds and the people who work for them – rather than theory, models or irritating air-punching rhetoric. The authors are clear that Leadership is not the sole province of high-powered CEOs but something we can all aspire to. Their advice is wise and practical: e.g. 'be yourself - with skill’, ‘know and show yourself – enough’, 'remain authentic -– but conform enough’. There are great tips to increase authenticity and descriptions of what followers actually want in their Leaders (and that is: Excitement, Authenticity, Significance and Community). Invaluable!

Quantum Skills for Coaches: a Handbook for Working with Energy and the Body-mind in Coaching

2010-02-09T20:32:00.008Z

Author: Annette Simmons
Publisher: Word4Word (2008)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

If you hadn’t thought of quantum mechanics as an effective Coaching tool before, why on earth not? Annette Simmons combines its principles with mindfulness, and gives plenty of practical examples and case studies to help managers apply emotional intelligence to their own development. It works in life as well as work. This is a holistic approach to Coaching and looks at decision-making, relationship building and dealing with conflict in a unique, experimental framework. This is that increasingly rare thing: a book and way of thinking that will genuinely take Coaches, Managers and Leaders to a different place.

Political Savvy: Systematic Approaches to Leadership Behind the Scenes

2010-02-09T20:12:00.003Z

Author: Joel R. DeLuca
Publisher: Evergreen Business Group, Pennsylvania, 1999
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

If you find office politics a big turn-off, and many people, particularly senior women, do, you might find this book enlightening. Politics can be a force for good. In fact the author defines ‘political savvy’ as ‘ethically building a critical mass of support for an idea you care about’ and it’s hard to argue with that. This book offers strategies for building consensus behind the scenes, forging relationships and understanding others’ points of view. Most intriguing it helps you analyse your own political style (yes, everyone has one!) and use it effectively to maximise personal impact – your own and others’ within your Organisation.

Leadership Presence: Dramatic techniques to Reach Out, Motivate and Inspire

2010-01-13T22:48:00.002Z

Authors: Belle Linda Halpern and Kathy Lubar
Publisher: Gotham Books (Penguin) 2003
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

Recommended by our Associate, Nicolas Chagrin, whose presentation skills coaching is second to none, Leadership Presence will help you calm your nerves, be yourself, play to your strengths, and take your audience by storm. Not only will you be able to project your voice, hold your audience, get your message across with confidence and express appropriate emotions in public without embarrassing anyone, but you’ll also learn what it is that actors have that leaders need: absolute presence in the moment.

Winning

2010-01-13T22:47:00.003Z

Author: Jack Welch, Suzy Welch
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reviewer: John Wilson

Of course Jack Welch needs no introduction, but this is a really good book for people who aspire to be effective managers. It gives great advice about how to deal with the demands of running and company and, most importantly, managing yourself. If only a small percentage of the companies in the world followed his advice in the chapter entitled ‘People Management’ the levels of motivation in companies would sky-rocket with an untold impact on their bottom-line!

The China Executive:Marrying Western and Chinse strengths to generate profitability from your Investment in China

2010-01-13T22:45:00.002Z

Author: Wei Wang
Publisher: 2W Publishing Ltd (www.2wchina.com)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

Global leaders in the 21st century will be doing business in China, so whether you are looking for business partners or joint ventures, or are coaching or developing business people with Chinese connections or teams, this is an invaluable title for your cross-cultural bookshelf. As well as giving an insight into the new face of China, it also looks at cultural issues for business people and, in the words of Wei Wang’s own website, fills the gap between a business school education and the China business reality. Tip: build common business goals if you want your business to succeed.

The Leader on the Couch:A Clinical Approach to Changing People and Organisations

2010-01-13T22:43:00.003Z

Author: Manfred Kets de Vries
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Reviewer: John Wilson

The dust sheet of this book provides all the information you need to persuade you that this is a book worth reading. It is a a great book for those in leadership positions as well as coaches working with leaders. The thrust of the book is that leaders have a lack of awareness about their own psychological drivers. The book focuses on how inner personality (largely hard-wired from childhood) affects the way people lead and manage others.

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time

2010-01-13T22:41:00.003Z

Authors: Susan Scott
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, 2004
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi

“No plan survives its collision with reality”. Thus begins Susan’s Scott’s classic bestseller, still absolutely relevant. Wouldn’t it be great if every conversation, meeting, discussion, appraisal, conversational exchange, was more truthful and had more impact? Susan Scott’s book is a manual for doing business by building meaningful relationships: never again will you be tempted to avoid the burning question or edge round the big grey thing in the room. Susan has also recently brought out Fierce Leadership: A Bold alternative to the worst “best” practices of Leadership today, and both books are available on Amazon. Also on audio. More about ‘Fierce’ at www.fierceinc.com

Coach and Couch

2010-01-13T22:38:00.003Z

Authors: Manfred Kets de Vries, Konstantin Korotov, Elizabeth Florent-Treacy
Publisher: INSEAD Business Press
Reviewer: John Wilson

Subtitled ‘The Psychology of Making Better Leaders’, this powerful book comes from the world-renowned INSEAD Business School and it packs a hefty punch. Like me, you will want to return to it this time and again, and each time you’ll pick up more information. The chapter I particularly enjoyed was on the value of 360° Feedback for senior executives.